China and Italy will further expand cooperation on environmental
protection projects after years of partnerships have been proved
successful, said Zhou Shengxian, director of the State
Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).
At the opening ceremony of the Sino-Italian Green Week, Zhou
said Sino-Italian environment cooperative projects represent
successful bilateral cooperation.
Since 2000, Italy has donated 162 million euros (US$207 million)
to China, providing funding for more than 50 environmental
projects.
Tangible results have been achieved in natural resource
protection, energy efficiency and renewable energy, organic
pollutant reduction and elimination, environment monitoring,
sustainable agricultural development and water resource
management.
Italian Environment Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio said Italy
faces environmental challenges similar to China.
The July 3-6 Sino-Italian Green Week includes a forum on the
environment, a presentation on Beijing green Olympics and an
Italian building and construction design exhibition.
(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2006)
